2 Chronicles 13 7

2 Chronicles 13:7 kjv

And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

2 Chronicles 13:7 nkjv

Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them.

2 Chronicles 13:7 niv

Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.

2 Chronicles 13:7 esv

and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.

2 Chronicles 13:7 nlt

Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon's son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 7 Meaning

This verse, part of King Abijah of Judah's address to King Jeroboam of Israel and his army, declares that Jeroboam's initial supporters were "worthless men," specifically "sons of Belial," who unjustly took advantage of King Rehoboam's youth and inexperience. Abijah argues that Jeroboam's rise to power and the establishment of the northern kingdom lacked divine legitimacy, stemming instead from a rebellion by morally corrupt individuals against God's appointed Davidic lineage. It frames the schism as an act of wickedness exploiting vulnerability, rather than a divinely sanctioned move, thus establishing a polemic against the Northern Kingdom's foundation.

2 Chronicles 13 7 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 13 presents King Abijah of Judah's significant address to Jeroboam and the Israelite army during their battle. The immediate context of verse 7 is Abijah's assertion of Judah's legitimacy as the continuation of God's covenant with David, challenging the foundation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Abijah aims to galvanize his own troops and perhaps dishearten Jeroboam's, emphasizing that Judah fights for the Lord while Israel rebels against Him. Historically, the kingdom had split following the reign of Solomon (1 Kgs 12; 2 Chr 10) due to Rehoboam's harsh policies and Jeroboam's rise, influenced by God's judgment against Solomon's idolatry. However, the Chronicler, through Abijah, portrays the northern kingdom's origin as humanly orchestrated rebellion and spiritual apostasy, rather than God's direct and sovereign appointment of Jeroboam as a legitimate ruler in the same covenantal sense as David's line. Abijah presents the battle as a conflict between God's ordained kingdom and an illegitimate, idolatrous usurper.

2 Chronicles 13 7 Word analysis

• And there were gathered (וַיִּקָּבְצ֛וּ, vayyiqav’tsu): This word implies a deliberate assembly or rallying. It emphasizes a concerted effort by these individuals to combine their forces. It suggests not a spontaneous movement but a deliberate, organized gathering against Rehoboam.
• to him (אֵלָ֗יו, ʾêlāv): Referring to Jeroboam. This highlights his central role in attracting these men and initiating the rebellion.
• worthless men (אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִ֛ים, ʾanāshîm rēqîm):
  • ʾanāshîm (men) is straightforward.
  • rēqîm (רֵיקִים) means "empty," "idle," "vain," "useless." It describes people who are devoid of moral worth, integrity, or purpose, contributing nothing of value to society and often causing mischief. It implies a lack of substance or positive contribution.
• sons of Belial (בְּנֵ֣י בְלִיַּ֔עַל, bənê vēlīyaʿal): This is a strong, derogatory phrase.
  • bənê (בְּנֵי) means "sons of."
  • bēlīyaʿal (בְּלִיַּעַל) literally means "worthlessness," "profitless," "wickedness," "destruction," or "no use/value." It often refers to exceptionally depraved, wicked, or lawless individuals who embody evil. In the Old Testament, it’s a strong pejorative for wicked, defiant people who defy God and human authority, causing trouble (e.g., those who attempt to seduce people to worship other gods in Deut 13:13). This term serves as a significant polemic, delegitimizing Jeroboam's support base by labeling them as fundamentally wicked and against God's order. This designation portrays their rebellion not just as political disagreement but as a morally corrupt act.
• who strengthened themselves (וַיִּתְחַזְּק֣וּ, vayyithḥazzaqu): This signifies an act of fortifying or making oneself strong, often in opposition or rebellion. It indicates a determined, assertive, and possibly violent effort to seize power, not a passive succession or popular mandate. It underscores the active, forceful nature of their rebellion.
• against Rehoboam (עַל־רְחַבְעָ֔ם, ʿal-rəḥavʿām): This preposition "against" clearly marks the rebellious nature of their action. It highlights Rehoboam as the rightful, albeit flawed, monarch, against whom the "worthless men" conspired.
• the son of Solomon (בֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃, ben-shəlōmōh): Emphasizes Rehoboam's lineage, directly connecting him to the divinely chosen Davidic dynasty and to Solomon, under whom the kingdom was united and reached its zenith. This contrast serves to further delegitimize Jeroboam, whose claim lacks such a lineage.
• when Rehoboam was young and timid (וְרַחַבְעָם֙ הָיָ֣ה נַ֔עַר וְרַךְ־לֵבָ֖ב, vəraḥavʿām hāyāh naʿar vərakh-lēvāv):
  • naʿar (נַעַר): "young man" or "youth." Implies inexperience or immaturity. While Rehoboam was 41 when he began to reign (1 Kgs 14:21), "young" here likely refers to his inexperience as a ruler, possibly also lacking in wisdom, as evidenced by his rejection of the elders' counsel.
  • rakh-lēvāv (רַךְ־לֵבָב): "soft-hearted," "irresolute," "lacking courage," or "feeble in will." It suggests a lack of the firm leadership and decisiveness needed to counter rebellion. Abijah portrays this weakness as the vulnerability that the "worthless men" exploited.
• and could not withstand them (וְלֹֽא־הִתְחַזֵּ֥ק לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם, vəloʾ-hithḥazzēq lifnêhem): Literally, "and he could not strengthen himself before them." This phrase indicates Rehoboam's inability to resist, oppose, or effectively counter the force and influence of these rebellious individuals. It reinforces the idea that Jeroboam’s power base exploited an opening rather than justly obtaining authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And there were gathered to him worthless men, sons of Belial": This phrase establishes the foundational argument of Abijah: Jeroboam's rise was due to wicked, morally corrupt individuals who intentionally sought him out. The description beliya'al is a powerful theological denunciation, portraying Jeroboam's regime as unholy and illicit from its very inception, rooted in spiritual perversion. This stands in stark contrast to the sacred covenant underpinning the Davidic dynasty.
• "who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon": This highlights the deliberate and active rebellion against the legitimate Davidic king. It implies an aggressive usurpation of power rather than a lawful transfer, emphasizing the illegitimacy of their actions and casting them as mutinous. The reference to "son of Solomon" links Rehoboam directly to God's covenant with David, underscoring the rebellion as an affront to divine order.
• "when Rehoboam was young and timid, and could not withstand them": This clarifies the circumstances of the rebellion. Abijah attributes the success of Jeroboam's followers not to their divine favor but to Rehoboam's personal weaknesses at that critical time. It implies exploitation of a vulnerability, painting Jeroboam's regime as opportunistic rather than divinely appointed. This also subtly deflects some blame from God's hand in the kingdom's division (which was part of prophecy, 1 Kgs 11:29-39), focusing instead on the wickedness of the human agents who enacted it from a specific perspective.

2 Chronicles 13 7 Bonus section

The Chronicler, in presenting Abijah's speech, often frames historical events through a theological lens, emphasizing Judah's faithfulness (relative to Israel's apostasy) and the enduring validity of the Davidic covenant and the Jerusalem Temple worship. While 1 Kings also recounts the kingdom's division, the Chronicler's specific inclusion of "worthless men, sons of Belial" in this verse serves to heighten the moral indictment against the Northern Kingdom from its very inception. This polemic against Israel's founding is a key aspect of the Chronicler's purpose, seeking to solidify the identity and legitimacy of the returning exiles of Judah by anchoring their history firmly in the covenant promises and Temple worship centered in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 13 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:7 encapsulates King Abijah's theological and historical justification for Judah's war against Israel. By identifying Jeroboam's early supporters as "worthless men, sons of Belial," Abijah powerfully delegitimizes the Northern Kingdom's foundation. He argues that Jeroboam's rule was not sanctioned by God through covenant but was rather an opportunistic rebellion born from the moral depravity of lawless individuals who exploited Rehoboam's inexperience. This portrayal stands in stark contrast to God's enduring covenant with the Davidic lineage (which Abijah claims Judah represents), emphasizing divine election versus human wickedness. The verse, therefore, frames the conflict not merely as a political struggle but as a clash between divine order and human rebellion, sacred lineage and corrupt opportunism. It reminds us that foundations laid on rebellion and ungodliness can never claim true divine authority.